I can't believe it is the end of another year!  I know it is cliche but time really does fly by. This coming spring it will be 6 years since I started my dance business. When I reflect on all of my experiences over the years with fellow dancers and students, workshops and performances, I am in awe.

​2015 was another incredibly full year, both in dance and in life. Outside of dance I finished my masters degree and have begun work on my PhD.  Within the dance world so many incredible people have helped make this year amazing. Here is a look back at some of my favorite memories from 2015!

Teaching and Student Achievements
* Taught classes on Skirt Dance, Veil, Classical Egyptian, Solo and Small Group Composition, Exploration of Bellydance Styles, and more
* Avienn and Aralia have officially started the mentoring process to become professional dancers, they now join with Melissa and Lisa Wall in a new mentoring program that will begin in 2016 (they also made a beautiful website!)
* Coached Carolyn and Kia on their first solo pieces
* Taught at the Shimmyathon for the third year in a row!
* Coached Maddi on bellydance and veil dance after she was awarded a scholarship from her college to do an intensive study- she then presented her first solo piece in August!
* Contributed to Julie Eason's Belly Dance Practice Prompts book

Performance
* Hosted 4th annual Dancing into the Light student showcase (more pictures here)
* Performed at a variety of wonderful private events for a wide range of audiences
* Did an awesome Vashti Banquet performance as a duet with singer Felicia Sloin
* Performed at the Raq On community day to the music of the Mosaic Ensemble
* Performed at Amity Alize's 30th birthday party to the beautiful music of the Fred Elias Ensemble
* Performed in Rosa Noreen's Zaman Classical Egyptian showcase to the music of Okbari Middle Eastern Ensemble
* Continued as a core performer at Goddess Lounge, and performed in Cultural Chaos with the other core dancers
* Danced at some super fun Halloween shows
* Headlined at Cairo Cabaret, performed at other local venues including Marco Polo, Goddess Lounge, Athenian Corner

Training
* Attended Art of the Belly and took classes with Victoria Teel, Aziza, and Lotus Niraja on Body Percussion, core isolations, layering, and more
* Attended Shimmyathon and took classes with Jeni, Amity Alize, and Aslahan
* Cross trained in east coast swing
* Attended Southern Vermont Dance Festival and took classes on Broadway Jazz, Jazz styles of the 50's and 60's, Sevillanas, Turkish, and Aerial Fabric
* Hosted Mahin for sold out workshops here in Northampton and took classes with her on Khaleegi, Shaabi, anatomy, Classical Egyptian, and more
* Studyed with Shadia, Shifah, Nadira, and Irina Akulenko on flamenco fusion, improvisation, routine structure, debke, Arabic sharqi, and more  
* Took a private lesson with Ansuya
* Took a doumbek workshop with Raquy Danziger

Other
* Had a super fun photoshoot with Felicia and RT2 Photography, and met Maia Kennedy Photography along the way
* Co-hosted a Hafla for Humanity, which raised $1,634.50 to contribute to the International Rescue Committee's Syrian Relief Fund
​* Attended the Arabic Music Retreat, Laayali concerts, and other fun live music events
* Hosted the fifth annual Secret Habibi bellydance gift exchange
* Emceed the Crescent Dancer's 40th Anniversary show with Avienn
* Was featured on Nadira Jamal's Belly Dance Geek Clubhouse to talk about mentoring for dancers
* Grew my costume collection ;)

I already have some exciting things planned for 2016!  I will be hosting some of my favorite New England dancers for workshops in Northampton, starting an official mentoring program for my students who have transitioned to or are transitioning to the professional realm, working on some amazing collaborations with my dance partners Felicia and Kenna, and so much more! I can't wait to dance with you all in 2016!

​Here are my top 4 favorite performance videos from this year! 

Thank you to all of my students, teachers, fellow dancers, bandmates, and performance clients who made 2013 so great! Special thanks to my dance partners Felicia and Kenna, student show co-host Chaya, and all of my fabulous students for always being inspirational and supportive.  Here are some highlights from the past year:

Teaching
* Taught some incredible students on a wide range of topics including Dance Composition for Bellydancers, Layering Techniques, Skirt Fusion, Prepare to Meet Your Dum, Songs Every Bellydancer Should know, Folk and Social Dances, Improvisation with Veils and more!
* Taught at Amity Alize's Raq On Shimmyathon in NH
* Coached Laura and Emily's first duet- they were fabulous and have since done many other great duets!
* Cheered as Melissa, Christina, Jessica, Faith, Lisa, and Victoria grew as soloists
* Taught a workshop as the featured guest at the Wedding Collaborative's Hot Inn Here event
* Taught at several wonderful bachelorette parties
* Taught at Shalimar's Souk in CT

Studying
* Took workshops and private lessons from Artemis Mourat, Rosa Noreen, Aslahan, Irina Akulenko, Tamalyn Dalal, Ankara Rose, and Amity Alize on a range of topics from Turkish Romani to waltz fan veil and Celtic fusion
* Attended the Southern Vermont Dance Festival where I tried Chinese Fan Dance, Waltz, Bollywood, Tango, Swing, and Flamenco
* Did private lessons with Shifah on Turkish spoons, and Kenna on sword dance

Performance
* Danced for a variety of private events including weddings, Vashti banquets, birthday parties, haflas, and other parties
* Collaborated with my Manavi bandmates, wonderful dance partners Felicia Malachite and Kenna, the Crescent Dancers, Jericha, Christina, and the Sisters of the Moon dance troupe on a variety of performances
* Co-hosted two fantastic student showcases with my partner in crime Chaya Leia
* Started dancing with Kenna at her super fun Vaudeville themed Goddess Lounge show
* Did a guest appearance with the Crescent Dancers at my mentor Shifah's birthday celebration show
* Headlined at the Marco Polo and the Cairo Cabaret showcases

Other
* Did fun photoshoots with Huong Phan and Keith Harmon Snow
* Hosted the third annual student secret habibi gift exchange
* Received my first two pieces of fan art!
* Attended live performances by fabulous musicians including Charbel Rouhana, the Shaheen brothers, the Dunya Ensemble, and more
* Had a new promotional video made by Hummingbird Videography
* Was invited to be on the Board of Advisors for Jericha Senyak's Museum of Joy
* My dance partner, Felicia, and student show partner, Chaya, each gave birth to their first child!

..and Ahead to 2014
I'm looking forward to another year working with my favorite dancers and musicians, teaching my fantastic students, and performing at beautiful celebrations!

Thank you to all of my students, teachers, fellow dancers, bandmates, and performance clients who made 2012 so great! Special thanks to my dance partner Felicia, student show co-host Chaya, and Jericha Senyak for always being inspirational and supportive.  Here are some highlights from the past year:

Teaching
* Taught some incredible students on a wide range of topics including Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know (both Turkish and Arabic), Vintage Oriental Skills: Floorwork & Zills, Prepare to Meet Your Dum, Expressive Elegance, Vibrant Veil and more
* Jericha and I co-coached Mary on her first solo
* Coached Christina on her first solo performance, Pat & Jamie on their first duet, Sophia on her first live music performance
* Began teaching at Studio Helix in Northampton
* Taught at several wonderful bachelorette parties

Studying
* Took workshops from Ruby Beh, Artemis Mourat, Elena Lentini, Asharah, Shifah, Donna Mejia, and Amity Alize on a range of topics from Turkish and Romani to Tribal Fusion and prop work
* Worked on Tribal Fusion stylization in private lessons with the incredible Jericha Senyak
* Took Nadira Jamal's amazing Rock the Routine online course
* Hosted my mentor Shifah for a workshop on Body Awareness and Emotional Expression

Performances
* Performed at a wide variety of private events including high school graduation parties, birthdays, Vashti banquets, poetry readings, bachelorette parties, and more
*  Had my first experience with theatrical bellydance in the Otherworld performance co-hosted by Manavi and SHOW Circus
* Co-hosted 2 fantastic student showcases with my partner in crime Chaya Leia
* Collaborated with my Manavi bandmates, wonderful dance partner Felicia Malachite, and the Sisters of the Moon dance troupe on a variety of performances

Other
* Restored the beautiful green Bella which was formerly Sandra's
* Attended the Creative Economy Summit hosted by Fostering Art & Culture
* Manavi made our first studio recordings
* Hosted the second annual student Secret Habibi
* Was invited to join the Crescent Dancers- they are some of my dance idols but unfortunately scheduling issues mean that I could not accept the offer at this time
* Was honored to watch Donna Mejia's MFA thesis presentation at Smith College
* Attended live performance by fabulous musicians Charbel Rouhana, the Shaheen brothers, Karim Nagi, and more

2011 was my first full year as a professional dancer. I've had so many amazing opportunities and gotten the chance to work with some amazing people- my students, friends, teachers, bandmates, clients, and other local business people have been a constant source of inspiration. This year started with my business being named one of the Pioneer Valley's New & Notable businesses by the Hampshire Gazette and ended with being invited by Vadalna Tribal Dance Company to headline their Temple event. Here are some highlights from in between:

Teaching
*Taught some truly incredible students, who never cease to impress me, on a wide variety of topics such as Dancing to Classical Egyptian Music, Dancing to Music in 9/8 Time, Layering & Dimension, Vintage Oriental Skills, Grace & Fluidity, and more
*Chaya Leia and I hosted our first collaborative student showcase- our students were gorgeous and the event sold out!
*Invited by LifeDance Productions to be a featured teacher in both the spring and fall Gathering Sands showcases
*Taught my first accredited class at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School to some amazingly talented high school girls (thanks to Ellen Kaz!)
*Choreographed an isis wing dance for pageant contestant Sandy
*Was hosted for workshops by a Umass Amherst sorority, an Amherst College dorm group (one of the guys in the workshop had the greatest belly rolls I've ever seen!), Synagogue Sisterhood B'nai Shalom, and LifeDance Productions
*Taught my first self hosted workshops-and they sold out!

Weddings
*Taught a Lebanese American bride some classical Lebanese dance moves for her wedding day
*Choreographed a couple's first dance for a Lebanese American bride and American groom who wanted to have a change from the typical waltz or ballroom first dance
*Performed at the wedding of my dear friends Lis Blossom & Merlin


Performances

*Hosted my first hafla with my fellow Manavi bandmates
*Manavi bandmates and I performed many shows and collaborated with the bands Raquy and the Cavemen & Burhan
*Made a woman's 50th birthday wish come true- she had always wanted a bellydancer to dance in carrying a cake shaped like a pumpkin when she turned 50
*Headlined Vadalna Tribal Dance Company's December Temple show
*Danced at a benefit show to help my friend Kalidasi travel to India
*Danced for a variety of private events and parties for Turkish, American, Indian, and Arabic audiences

Other
*Did fun outdoor photoshoots with Derek Goodwin and Ethan
*Organized my first annual student Secret Habibi exchange
*Studied with Nadira Jamal, Sabine, Ansuya, Amirah, Jericha, and Chaya Leia
*Worked with Julie and the other wonderful members of the Circle
*Was featured by the Daily Hampshire Gazette as a New & Notable Business in the Pioneer Valley
*Made custom costumes for Baseema Moirae and the troupe Sisters of the Moon
*Made coral and brown floral costumes for myself
*Was asked to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of my student Dede to her love Clint- Dede has been in my classes from the very first day I started teaching and a dear friend for many years

...and Ahead to 2012
This year I am looking forward to doing more collaborations with Chaya Leia, Jericha, Krista, my Manavi bandmates, and other talented locals, studying with some of my favorite instructors, teaching my amazing students, and maybe even traveling to Turkey!